What Does ESPN Mean To CrossFit...
Dave
"A key to my thinking has always been the almost fanatical belief that what I was engaged in was a literary art form. That belief was compounded out of ego and necessity, I guess, a combination of the two."
Recently CrossFit was exposed to crowds hovering over T.V.s all over the world. From bars, to living rooms CrossFit reached out and touched the world. What does this mean for CrossFitters?
ESPN attended the CrossFit games and practically populated the entire dugout around the event floor. Camera men were allowed to film the event, but in true CrossFit style ESPN was not allowed to interfere with the crowds experience, nor did they want to.
With two camera men on the floor, and a UFO above that came oddly close on several occasions, ESPN mercilessly filmed athletes from all over the world. Last week ESPN presented our beloeved CrossFit package to the world, and this week they continue.
Many of us were drawn to CrossFit because of its sub-culture. Its #$%& the man approach to life. Its community accountability. Its leader Coach Glassman. Its results. With ESPN on the horizon, many seem to fear diluted integrity in what they love. Many of us fear what will never come to pass as long as we remain true.
ESPN helped spawn the inevitable. No matter how much we love our little beautiful piece of the world it cannot only be ours for eternity,. Its inevitable that the best program ever created becomes the worlds solution, not just a neighborhoods. I too love my CrossFit box as it is, personal, small, family. But our goal must not be to keep it all to oursleves, our goal is to be the example the peopel need. The teachers the peopel deserve.
I received a phone call from a few CFHQ lawyer the other day about our upcoming Competition At The Ranch. They were concerned for me. For our brand. For CrossFit. After they asked if we had covered ourselves legally they asked "whats the contest's purpose"? Quickly, without thinking I spoke from the heart; for others in need, and to represent the way of life I love. It even shocked me a little that it so clear, so transparent. The lawyer said, "what can I help with."?
We must not become irritated by the newcomers that ESPN sends our way. Nor should we be irritated when these newcomers don't quite get what CrossFit is. And we can't be up our own asses when we feel like our family is stretched thinner, or we don't get the "attention" we somehow feel we deserve.
We must double back our efforts as a community to teach these newcomers from the pages of CrossFit. The revolution doesn't hide from freedom fighters living as cattle, the revolution converts the herd. The revolution lights the fire, and continuously stokes it changing the world, and those in it.
ESPN will make strong CrossFit's stronger. ESPN's money will motivate non-CrossFitters to dawn our flag for the wrong reasons and this couldn't be better for the revolution of fitness. A CrossFit born of money will create a stronger separation between fake revolutionaries, and real Freedom fighters. Anything born of money will never compete with anything born of passion.
As CrossFit affiliates and CrossFitters we should thank ESPN for drawing a bigger more public line in the sand of a lifestyle we all hold so dear. A line that the true CrossFit lovers will nurture, and a line that all the rest will continue to abuse until they are surrounded. Until the only way, is the CrossFit way.
Strength:
Press
5/3/1
Compare Here
For Time:
12- Back Rack Thrusters 85/115
7-Box Jumps 24/28
3 Rounds
Auxiliary:
Handstand Push-up
*Athlete can only kip during the last minute.
AMRAP 3 Minutes
Banded Jumping Air Squats
3x10
Post impressions and time to comments.
Functional movements..."will determine in no small measure the quality of your life moving forward." " There's nothing that happens on a job site, ever, that's gonna look like this (demos lateral arm raises); there's no such thing...these are gym movements, and have no analogue, proximately or exactly, in real life..."
-Glassman interview w Fast Company
There's always (at least) one line...
Posted by: k | September 21, 2011 at 02:36 AM
4:54
yay Terri on your handstandizzzzzzle
Posted by: holly | September 21, 2011 at 06:48 AM
11:28
way too slow but I finished
Posted by: runmelrun | September 21, 2011 at 07:00 AM
7:28M
65# on Back Rack Thruster
Posted by: Carrie | September 21, 2011 at 08:27 AM
6:02m
65#, 20" box
Mitchell you did awesome!!!
Posted by: Krissy | September 21, 2011 at 08:40 AM
5am - such a positive motivating group!
85lbs/115 is no joke on a back rack thruster...you guys did fantastic with it.
Special thanks to Holly and Bonnie for helping with the Handstand Push-ups!
Posted by: chastity | September 21, 2011 at 08:47 AM
AND,..if you are on facebook or can get to it...check out Teri Gulker or congradulate Teri on her first Handstand Kickup. There's video. And its not only her first, its absolutely perfect!!
Posted by: chastity | September 21, 2011 at 08:49 AM
8:12
Posted by: jen w | September 21, 2011 at 10:30 AM
4:35 - gotcha holly!!! that's for putting 2 1/2s on during the yoke holds to beat me :)
Posted by: heather mc | September 21, 2011 at 12:30 PM
7:51
Thanks Ry!
Posted by: Mo | September 21, 2011 at 01:01 PM
heather spankings at 9am tomorrow :)
Posted by: holly | September 21, 2011 at 03:32 PM
6:36 wod
4 press
great class mindy!
thanks for your help with handstands ryan!
Posted by: kara MIKOLAJEWSKI | September 21, 2011 at 08:48 PM
6:22 (m)
Nalin, Ryan, and Mindy...thanks for your help tonight - That damn handstand WILL happen!
Kevin and Randy...good job!
Posted by: Shelly | September 21, 2011 at 09:39 PM
JB, fun to have you at the 9am!! Thanks!
6:??m
Posted by: Amelia | September 21, 2011 at 10:46 PM
6:13 + 33"box
Posted by: NP | September 22, 2011 at 08:04 AM
8:37
Posted by: JN | September 22, 2011 at 10:52 AM